Roger Daltrey Concerned For Young Musicians, Road Crews During Pandemic

The Who frontman Roger Daltrey acknowledges that there's a lot to be worried about. He says he's most concerned for people who are out of work, like younger musicians or touring personnel who can't do their jobs from home.

"I do feel sorry for young musicians ... also, orchestral musicians, these people that have studied for years and years and years to play in orchestras," Daltrey told Express. "They're all out of work — the road crews, the truck drivers, the lighting people, the whole industry is sitting on its fingers. ... it's horrendous."

But he urged fans not to forget about people who were suffering before the pandemic; they are at all increased risk of the consequences from the fallout. Those who have money to spare should consider giving to an organization like the Teenage Cancer Trust, he said, which had its annual fundraiser canceled because of the lockdown.

"We need a vital lifeline at the moment, and we won't get it from the first round of charitable money coming out of the government, because that's got to be tailored specific," he said of the Teenage Cancer Trust's potential budget shortfall. "It's heartbreaking to see us in the state that we are in, where all our fundraising has been stopped."

The organization needs to raise about $7 million this year to keep its operations going, he added.

Meanwhile, people over 70 years old in England have been urged not to leave home for any reason over COVID-19 concerns. Daltrey says he's being careful and he understands the situation, but he's also never been one to follow orders.

"I live in the countryside, so it's a lot easier," Daltrey said. "I cannot imagine what it must be like stuck in London in a flat with a couple of kids. ...I'm not moaning about anything, but equally, as a 76-year-old, I'm not going to be told by anybody to stay it. Go f--k yourselves. We can't wrap ourselves in cotton wool."

He added that there's good reason why Brits and people in other countries have been confused by news on the virus; it's so new that science hasn't had a chance to review all the evidence.

"I'm very proud of us for that, and again, our frontline clinicians and clinical-care workers, I'll clap all day long for," he said.